Deflecting tool



July 2, 1957 P. H. MEYER nEFLEcTmG-Toox.

Filed Dec. so, '1954 /Dau/ Meyer Blum ATTORNEYS States Patent-@Ofice DEFLECTING TOOL Paul H. Meyer, Midland, Tex.

Application Decemher30, 1954, Serial No. 478,591

7 Claims. (c1. iss- 1.6)

The present invention relates to a deflecting tool particularly adapted for drilling around an object or objects, commonly referred to as fish in the art, in which a bit is deflected into the side of the well bore above the fish and away from the top and down around the fish without deviating unduly from the direction of the original well bore. The present Vinvention also relates to means for loosening a fish in the well bore so that it may be recovered.

Frequently, in the drilling of oil wells and the like, tools are lost in the well bore or the string of drill pipe becomes struck therein and cannot be retrieved. In such instances it is necessary to sidetrack that portion of the incompleted well where the tools are lost or the pipe is stuck. Some sidetracking operations include cementing the lower portion of the well to a point above the fish in order to set a deliecting tool in the well bore. Also, many deflecting tools have elaborate and expensive anchor or setting mechanism for anchoring them in the well bore. Many of these tools and practices are further unsatisfactory in that in drilling around and down beyond the fish the deflection is at too great an angle to the desired direction of the well bore and, consequently, causes a considerable corkscrew in the well bore which is undesirable for a number of reasons, such as setting casing, tubing, pumping the well, if necessary, and the like.

It is therefore a major object of the present invention to provide a deflecting tool which may positively be set in a well 'bore by an exceedingly simple operation and by drilling off the face of the deecting tool with a drilling tool, a fish in the well bore can be sidetracked `at a rela tively small angle to the desired direction of the well bore without danger of the drilling tool working back into the original well bore at a point above the fish.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of a deecting tool which may readily be attached directly to the fish or obstruction in the well bore for the purpose of drilling around the fish; yet, which deflecting tool may readily be released from the fish or obstruction and retrieved from the well bore.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of a deecting tool which may readily be set by attaching it to the fish in the well bore by rotation of the setting string of pipe to which it is connected and where, after the dellecting tool is set, continued rotation releases the setting string of pipe so that it might be removed from the Well bore and sidetracking operations commenced.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a dellectingtool which eliminates complicated and expensive anchor means at the bottom thereof and which eliminates the usual practice'of cernenting that portion of the original Well bore which is obstructed by the fish.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a deflecting tool in combination with a setting sub whereby the deilecting tool may readily and positively be anchored to the fish in the original well bore and the setting sub may readily be released from the deilecting tool so that sidetracking operations may be performed.

An additional object of the present invention is the provision of a deflecting tool including a setting sub whereby the deecting tool may be anchored to the fish by rotation to the right and continued rotation to the right after the deecting tool is so anchored releases the setting sub from the deliecting tool.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of deecting tools of the character mentioned which are exceedingly simple and inexpensive to manufacture, repair and maintain, which are rugged and durable in use and, yet while being flexible in use, are reliable for sidetracking operations.

It would be advantageous to be able to loosen a fish in a well borel so that it may be recovered, and, accordingly, it is a still further and important object of the invention to provide means for deflecting a well bore about a fish and loosening the sh so that it drops into or is freed by the deflected bore so that the fish may be recovered.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a following description of presently preferred examples constructed in accordance with the invention given for the purpose of disclosure and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, where like character references designate like parts throughout the several views, and where Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a deflecting tool and setting sub constructed according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the deecting tool of Figure l and shown anchored directly to the fish whereby sidetracking operations may be performed about the fish,

Figure 3 is a View similar to that of Figure 2, but illustrates the deflecting tool of Figure 2 rotated to the left a quarter of a turn and better illustrates the guide surface, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational View, partly in section, illustrating a modification of the deflecting tool constructed according to the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference numeral 10 designates an original well bore which has a fish in the form of the pipe 12 stuck therein at its lower portion. It is therefore desirable to sidetrack around this obstruction or loosen the fish 12 for recovery in the well bore 10 and the drilling continued to the original destination without having to drill an entirely new well. To this end a deflecting tool according to the invention, generally indicated by the reference numeral 14, is provided which has means at its lower end for engaging the upstanding portion of the fish 12, such as the threads 16, here illustrated as right hand threads. It will be understood that any preferred fish engaging tool may be substituted for or attached to the threads 16, such as a tapered tap, overshot and the like so that the lower portion of the `deflecting tool 14 may be anchored to the upper portion of the fish 12.

The deecting tool 14 illustrates in Figures l, 2 and 3 Patented July 2, 1957 is provided with a generally elongated upper member` ofthe guide or-slide surface 18-with respect to the axisof the deflecting tool but, preferably, the angle should be such that when drilling off the face 18'of the deflecting tool- 14 the bit will drill laterally at an angle to the welli bore so that all danger of the drilling tool working back into the original well bore to a point above the obstruction is eliminated.

The lower portion ofthe deflecting tool 14 above the pipe engaging means 16-is provided with the threads 29, which are preferably left hand threads, to threadedly engage the internally vthreaded lower portion 22 of what may be termed a setting sub24. The setting sub 24 is of generally elongated tubular construction and of a size sufficient to fit over and contain all but the lower portion of the deflecting tool 14 when assembled as illustrated in Figure l. The upper end of the setting sub 24 is providedA with means to connect it to a string of pipe for setting the deflecting tool in the well bore, such as the right hand threaded box 26 which threadedly receives the downwardly extending threaded pin 28 of the manipulating string of pipe 30 which extends to the surface, not shown, by which the deflecting tool is lowered into the original well bore 10, anchored to the fish 12, and the setting sub 24 and manipulating pipe 30 removed from the well bore in a manner to be described later.

Between the left hand threads 22 and the fish engaging means 16 there is provided a generally upset portion 32 for convenience in assembling or threading the deecting tool 14 into the setting sub 24, such as by tongs and the like. Also, circulation ports 35 are provided `on the side opposite the tapered guide or slide surface for permitting circulation through the deflecting tool thus permitting the hole to be maintained clean at lall times by the usual circulation of`drilling fluid. To this end the body or upper member 17 is hollow or may be provided with a passage so that fluid is circulated about the fish 12.

Thus, it is noted, in effect, that a ramp-type or whipstock-type deflecting tool having a concave guide face is provided which is releasably assembled with a setting sub so that it can be lowered into a Well bore and connected directly to the fish and the setting sub released from the deflecting tool and removed from the well bore so that sidetrackingoperations may be performed. The concave guide face insures that initial sidetracking operations will be at a suicient angle to the axis of the original well bore to eliminate any danger of the bit working back into the original well bore 10 above the fish 12. This danger is further minimized by anchoring the deflecting tool 14 directly to the fish 12 rather than some distance above the fish 12.

When it is desired to sidetrack about an obstruction or fish in an existing well bore, the deflecting tool 14 is assembled as shown in Figure 1, that is threaded into the lower end of the setting sub 24 which is threaded to the lower end of the string of pipe 30 and the whole loweredv into the well bore 10. When the fish 12 is engaged by the pipe engaging means 16, rotation of the manipulating string 30, for example, to the right secures the lower portion of the deflecting tool 14 to the upstanding fish 12. Once this is secured, continued rotation to the right will disengage or unthreadV the internally-threaded lower portion 22 of the setting sub 24 from the threaded section of the deflecting tool 14 thereby releasing the latter. The setting sub 24 and manipulating'string ofV pipe 3 0 may then be withdrawn from the well'bore by conventional meansatthe'surface,l not shown:

A drilling string may then be lowered into the well bore and drilling commenced at any angle substantially the same as that along the guide surface 18 thereby drilling a sidetracking well bore 34 laterally at an angle to the existing well bore and around the fish 12 therein. As mentioned, any desired taper may be provided on the concave tapered guide 18 and by controlling the pressures of the drilling string against the guide face 18 of the deflecting tool 14 the sidetracking well bore 34 may be drilled at the desired angle such as by the bit 36. In this connection, the drilling string is quite elastic and when more downward pressure is applied to the drilling string it tends to spring the bit off the whipstock at a higher angle. When less weight or pressure is exerted downwardly on the bit, the bit does not tend to spring olf the face of the whipstock at such a high degree of angle. Thus, by controlling the amount of downward force or weight applied to the bit, the angle at which the bit drills off the face of the whipstock or deliecting tool is controlled within certain limits. After a short length of sidetracking hole 34 is drilled, say eight or ten feet, the drilling string of pipe is removed from the well bore in the usual manner and a retrieving tool, not shown, of any preferred type may be lowered into the well bore 10 to engage the deecting tool 14 and remove it from the Well bore. This may be accomplished, for example, with a conventional overshot. While any desired length of hole may be drilledol the face of the dellecting tool 14, since the guide surface 18 is concave, the angle of the sidetracking well bore 34 from the original well bore 10 will be relatively sharp or great which causes the sidetracking well bore 34 to deviate a considerable distance from the original well hole, if drilled too far, which is undesirable inv most cases.

After the ramp-type or whipstock-type deflecting tool 14 has been removed from the well bore, the deflecting tool illustrated in Figure 4 may be set and the operation continued. In Figure 4, corresponding parts to those illustrated in Figures l, 2 and 3 have the letter a added for convenience. Turning now to this figure the deflecting tool 14a is generally in the form of an upstanding cone and hence has the convex guide surface 18a extending completely about its upper portion. The conical deflecting tool 14a is somewhat shorter than the ramp-type deecting tool 14. The left hand threads 20a-and tong space 32a are provided so that what may be termed the conical deecting tool 14a may be assembled in the lower end of the setting sub 24 illustrated inFigure 1 in the same manner as the whipstock or ramp-type deecting tool 14. Also provided is the pipe engaging means 16a which is identical to that of the deflecting tool 14, illustrated in Figures 1-3, inclusive, so that conical deflection tool 14a may be connectedin the upstanding portion of the fish12. Circulation ports 35a are provided through the convex guide surface 18a to provide circulation in the same manner as that mentioned in connection with the deflecting tool 14.

Thus, the conical deflection tool 14a is assembled in the setting sub 24 and lowered into the well bore in the same manner as that described in connection with the whipstock or ramp-type defiecting tool 14. Upon the fish-engaging element 16a engaging the sh 12, rotation, such as to the right, firmly anchors the conical deecting tool 14a thereto and continued rotation disconnects or releases the left hand threaded portion 20a from the internally-threaded lower portion 22 of the setting sub 24 so that the setting sub may then be retrieved.

After the setting sub 24 is retrieved, the drilling bit 36 may be lowered into the well bore on a drill string, not shown, and upon engaging the conical deflecting tool 14a, the drill string is manipulated'at the surface until the bit 36moves into the sidetracking well bore 34 previously drilled oftthe face of the ramp or whipstock-type deflecting tool 14. 'This is facilitated due to the shortened length of the 'conicaldeecting `tool 14a guiding the bit'36 into the previously-drilled sidetracking well bore 34. If for any reason the bit 36 comes to rest on the top of the conical deecting tool 14a, the drill string is manipulated at the surface, such as by raising and lowering and rotating it until the bit 36 is olf center. Then by slowly rotating and lowering the drill string and the bit 36, the bit 36 is moved into the previously-drilled sidetracking well bore 34. Thus, by manipulating the drilling string from the surface, the bit 36 is stabbed into the previously-drilled well bore 34. Drilling may then be continued downwardly beside the fish to any depth desired. Because of the convex shape of the conical deflecting tool 14a and its shortened length, the drill pipe and bit 36 tend to remain closer to the fish than when drilling off the concave face of the ramp-type or whipstock-type deiiecting tool 14 and thus it is possible to drill close to the fish 12 rather than quite some distance away from the fish thereby making a relatively small deviation from the axis of the original well bore. In this connection, the relatively short and convex shape of the deflecting tool 14a facilitates the drilling of a smaller angle than a conventional whipstock and permits of less taper than a conventional whipstock due to the fact that the face of the cone extends from its axis or midpoint outwardly; whereas, in conventional Whipstocks, the taper extends from one side of the top to the other side at the bottom. The shorter deiiecting tool 14a also provides less deiiecting surface for guiding the bit 36 off its deflecting surface 18a. Since the drilling string is quite elastic, by placing a small amount of weight down on the bit 36 (a high weight down would cause it to spring off the dellecting surface 18a at a higher angle) the weight of the drill string and bit 36 causes the latter to drill downwardly rather than outwardly in extending the previously-drilled sidetracking well bore 34 and closely adjacent to the fish 12. The shorter deiiecting guide surface of the conical deliecting tool 14a also facilitates drilling downwardly rather than outwardly as the relatively elastic drill string is guided outwardly only a short distance and then it moves downwardly alongside the fish. As mentioned, the cone-shaped detiecting tool is used primarily for sidetracking operations where the direction of deviation is relatively unimportant, or in directional operations after the initial short length of the hole has been dug. In the latter operation, the face of the whipstock is oriented in the desired direction and the drilling takes place in that direction ofi the face of the whipstock. If desired, after the initial hole is dug, the conical-type deflecting tool is utilized so that drilling may take place at a lesser angle in the initial hole and, accordingly, in the desired direction.

Upon completion of the sidetracking hole, the bit 36 and drill pipe may be removed and the conical deflecting tool 14a may be retrieved by any suitable means, such as a conventional overshot as in the case of the ramp or whipstock-type deecting tool 14 although it may remain in the well bore, if desired. Thus, the well may be drilled to completion and the fish is effectively sidetracked with a minimum of deviation from the original well bore.

In most instances, the sidetracking preferably is proximate or very close to the fish so that the fish is loosened by the sidetracking. In other words, the deflected hole intersects or loosens or cuts away the formation adjacent the side of the original hole and thereby loosens the fish and it is recovered in any conventional manner. This is accomplished by drilling a very short distance laterally with the whipstock-type tool, say eight to ten feet or less and then drilling with the conical detiecting tool. If the iish is recovered, then, of course, drilling may be continued in the original hole to completion.

By way of example, a satisfactory ramp or whipstocktype deiiecting tool of the present invention may be about 6 long and have a 6%" O. D. The top portion may be 6" in outside diameter and the concave ramp 18 may be 4long with a taper ofl to Below the ramp it may be upset' 1/s'f for about 41A which has the left hand threads (2)0. The tong space 32 Vmay be 6 long and have a 61A" The cone deiiecting tool may be 19" long with a 61A O. D. The conical portion 18a may be about l5" long with a 6 base. The threaded portion 20a is upset ls" and is 2" long. The tong space 32a is 2" long with a 6%" O. D.

The setting sub may be 84"V long with a 7'" O. D. and

a 61/2" I. D. The bottom 22 is internally upset to 6%" I. D. for about 4".

While deiiecting tools and the setting sub of the above dimensions are satisfactory for certain operations, it will be understood that they are for illustration only and that they are not limited to any particular dimensions, all of which are included in the scope of the invention and the appended claims.

It is noted that the specific deflecting tools of the invention described provide a very reliable, eicient and yet flexible means for sidetracking around or loosening ish or obstructions in a well bore so that they may be recovered thereby providing a minimum of deviation from the axis of the existing well bore or permitting the original well bore to be further drilled, yet without danger of the drilling tool working back into the original hole to a point above the fish. Also, complicated and expensive anchoring means are advantageously avoided and eliminated for setting and anchoring the deflecting tools in the well bore as well as the usual practice of cementing the lower portion of the existing well bore to a point above the fish.

Thus, the present invention has the advantages set forth and attains the objects and ends mentioned as Well as others inherent therein.

While only presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been given for the purpose of disclosure, it is apparent that changes in details and arrangement of parts will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are included in the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. The present invention, therefore, is to be limited only by the spirit thereof and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A deflecting tool comprising, a body having a tapered guide surface, means at the bottom of the body for connection to a fish in a well bore for anchoring the body to the sh, and a tubular setting sub surrounding the body and releasably connected to the lower end thereof and above its bottom for lowering the deccting tool into the Well bore and anchoring the body to the fish.

2. A deiecting tool comprising, a body having a tapered guide surface, means at the bottom of the body for connection to a fish in a well bore for anchoring the body to the fish, an elongate tubular setting sub disposed about the body, and means releasably connecting the lower end of the sub to the lower end of the body above the bottom for lowering the deflecting tool into the well bore and anchoring the body to the fish, said setting sub being provided with means at its upper end for connection to a string of pipe for manipulation in the well bore.

3. The deiiecting tool of claim 2 where the means releasably connecting the lower end of the sub to the body comprise left hand threads.

4. The deflecting tool of claim 2 where the upper portion of the body comprises a whipstock and the guide surface is concave.

5. The deiiecting tool of claim 2 where the upper portion of the body is conical in configuration and the guide surface is convex.

6. A deleoting tool comprising, an elongate body, thread means at the bottom of the body for connection to a fish in a well bore for anchoring the body to the sh, said body being provided with a tapered guide sur- 2,646,253 Johnston July 21, 1953 

